Cutting and slitting machinery



C. BUSTAMANTE CUTTING AND SLITTING MACHINERY Aug. 20, i935.

Filed May ll, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Aug. 20, E935. c, BUSTAMANTE CUTTING AND SLITTING MACHINERY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l1, 1934 :Nv ENTo R 6455A@ BUSTA/:44N TE ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1935. c. BUSTAMANTE 2,011,614

CUTTING AND SLITTING MACHINERY Filed May ll, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR wm. Wm, mm

All@ 20, i935- c. BUSTAMANTE 2,011,614

CUTTING AND SLITTING MACHINERY ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1935.

C. BUSTAMANTE CUTTING AND SLITTING MACHINERY Filed May 11, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E 7 INVENTOR ig.' 8 @45s/1P B TAM/WTE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1935 @TATS PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to novel apparatus for and methods of cutting and slicing material fed from rolls, and more particularly relates to novel 'apparatus for and methods of cutting and slicing cellulose products.

Due to the close texture of cellulose products and its resultant resistance to tearing, shearing and cutting, the usual methods such as commonly employed in cutting paper cannot be readily adapted thereto.

There are many different types of cellulose products in the class to which my invention applies. Such types may be sheets that are moisture-proof, dust-proof and translucent. They may be obtained in large rolls, printed or plain, as desired. A common term that is descriptive of this class is cellophane, However, hereinafter I shall refer to these products by the term cellulose.

The considerable increase in use of these products has created a need for simple, inexpensive and effective means to enable the large consumer of these products to cut and slice the cellulose to varying sizes.

To make it practical, however, for the consumer to have such a machine, it is essential that the investment, interest and operation costs, when added to the cost of the cellulose material bought in bulk, amount to the same or less than the cost of the material purchased cut to size. If this can be accomplished, there are so many inherent advantages in being able to cut` the material at the time of consumption that the purchase of such a machine is well warranted. Such material, for instance, generally sticks together at the edges when kept in stock in cut form. l

My invention contemplates the constructionof a device which, while meeting. all the technical and intricate details in the cutting and slicing of cellulose sheets, is simple, constructed of few inexpensive parts so that it is not costly, consumes a small amount of space, operates with comparatively little power and is in the main automatic, eliminating the need of any special skill.

Accordingly objects of my invention are to provide al cutting and slitting machine which is inexpensive, simple and economical to operate and adjustable to cut any desired size.

`Cellulose is extremely light and has substantially little body. Its edges, accordingly, tend to crimp and the material as a. whole to curl. In feeding the cellulose from the rolls, it is accordingly essential to maintain the product taut while at the same time not subjecting too severe a strain on the rolls from which it is being fed.

To this end I provide novel means for simultaneously feeding the cellulose product from rolls on which it is carried and at the same time pro- 5u vide for rotation of the rolls to assist in the feeding.

Accordingly an object of my invention is to provide a novel method of and apparatus for feeding cellulose sheets from one or more rolls. l0

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means whereby the drive rollers are in engagement with the rolls containing the cellulose sheets so that as the sheets are fed therefrom by the rollers and the rolls rotated to assist in the feeding, the sheets being fed are at all times maintained taut to permit uniform slitting thereof.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide novel means for automatically slitting the 20 cellulose sheets longitudinally as they are fed for cutting operation.

Due to the tendency of the cellulose sheets to crinkle and otherwise distort themselves in shape, it is essential in the feeding operation to suitably protect the ends of the material and at the same time to hold the material in fixed relation to assist in the cutting operation.

Moreover, because of the special problems involved, it is essential that the cellulose sheets be brought to a positive rest at the instant of cutting.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide novel methods of and apparatus for gripping the material to be cut and guiding it over a fixed path as it is fed to a predetermined length prior to cutting.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for gripping the cellulose sheets and rigidly holding them in place during the period 40 while the cutting knife is in engagement therewith.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of aprons which cooperate with transverse rods to hold the cellulose sheets in gripping engagement during the feeding and cutting thereof.

In an intermittent feed of the material to be cut which operates from the same shaft supplying power to operate the knife, a denite relationship must invariably be maintained between the feeding of the material and the cutting such that cutting occurs only while the material is at rest and. feeding occurs only while the knife is out of engagement therewith. In such a con- 'Y are simultaneously 15 i struction the adjustment of the size of cuts, while maintaining this relation usually involves complicated and costly mechanism.

In accordance with my invention, I have simpliiied this materially by a novel arrangement of material feeding mechanism .and adjusting means therefor.

Accordingly a further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of feeding the material to be cut.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of adjusting the size of cuts.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide novel means for cutting various sized lengths of material while maintaining a definite relationship between the feed and Acutting operations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel sector gear construction with adjustments therefor to control its oscillatory movement.

In feeding material from rolls and providing for the rotation of the rolls to assist in feeding operation through frictional engagement with the rolls, it becomes necessary to compensate for adjustments in diameter of the rolls as the amount of material thereon is reduced.

Accordingly a further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of rotating the rolls to assist in the feeding of the material therefrom and to simultaneously adjust for changes in the diameter of the rolls as the amount of material left thereon is decreased.

There are other objects of my invention which together with the foregoing will appear in a detailed description which is to follow in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of my invention with a section through the roller end as indicated in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a side view'of my invention during the feeding of the cellulose sheets;

Figure 3 is a side view to show how the several gears mesh;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through my invention (as indicated in Figure 1 by 4-4) to show the path of the cellulose sheets through the machine;

Figure 5 is a part of Figure 4 to illustrate how the finally cut wrappers are stacked;

Figure 6 is a side view to`show the coordination of the gears and cams during the transverse cutting of the sheets;

Figure 7 is a pictorial view of the path of the cellulose sheets and of the associated mechanisms;

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the machine as indicated in Figure 1 by 8 8;

Figure 9 is a section through the clutch member 88 as indicated in Figure 6;

Figures 10, 11, and 12 are detail sections of the clutch; and

Figures 13 and 14 are sections through the length of wrapper control mechanism.

Referring to the drawings and more specifically to Figure l, the two side frames Il) and are spaced apart as desired and structurally strengthened by tie rod I2 which locks the frames into a solid unit by means of nuts I3. Where necessary, legs I4 of the frames I8 and may be secured to the supporting surface by means of bolts and nuts I5 and I6 respectively (Figure 4).

Suitably mounted on the frame structure is a source of rotating power preferably an electric motor |1 of desired power. The motor I1 is provided with the usual armature suitably mounted wheels 21 and -28 which carry a pair of endless chains 38 and 3|. The endless chains 30 and 3| extend horizontally to an additional pair of similar sprocket wheels 32 and 33 which are spaced a suitable distance from the wheels 21 and 28, dependent upon the maximum length of cellulose wrapper it is desired to cut. The secondary pair of sprocket wheels 32 and 33 are rotatably mounted on sub-frame 34 and 35 in bearing supports 36 and 31. The sub-frame 34 and 35 carries the receiving and stacking assembly of the cellulose wrappers and will be explained more fully hereinafter. f

The sprocket chains 38 and 3| carry several transversely mounted rods 38 upon which the finally cut cellulose wrapper is received and supported preliminary to stacking, as will also be explained further hereinafter.

The sprocket wheels 21 and 28 being xedly mounted on the rotating shaft 24 and of identical size, drive the sprocket chains 38 and 3| at equal speeds with respect to each other. Accordingly, the supporting rods 38, carried by the sprocket chains 30 and 3|, are maintained at right angles to the chains.

Secured at the end of the supporting shaft 24 for rotation therewith and between the frame II and the sprocket wheel 28 is xedly mounted a pinion 48 (Figure 3) which meshes with and drives a gear 4| secured to and driving shaft 43, supported by the fr ame in bearing 42.

Mounted on and rotatable with shaft 43 (Figure 2) is a cam member 44. This cam has two cam surfaces 45 and 46 upon which ride the cam ro11ers'41 and 48 respectively. As shown clearly in Figure 7, cam follower 41 rides on the cam surface 45 and cam follower 48 rides on the cam surface 46. It will be obvious from this drawing that as cam 44 rotates counterclockwise, cam follower 48 moves over the raised portion of cam surface 46, cam follower 41 passes over the de pressed portion of cam 45 and bell crank 5| is rocked in a counterclockwise direction. Also, as cam follower 48 reaches the end of the raised portion of the cam, it is returned to the position shown in Figure 2 by cam follower 41, which rides over the raised part of cam 45, rocking the bell crank 5| clockwise.

The bell crank 5| is pivotally mounted on pin 52 which is integral with frame Il. Cam follower 41 is rotatably mounted on pinl50, and cam follower 48 on pin 53, attached to the bell crank 5|.

As the cam 44 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about its shaft 43, bell crank 5| is rocked clockwise and counterclockwise about its pivot 52 once per cam revolution, as hereinbefore described. Proper design of cam 44 permits predetermination of the bell cranks cycle of operation.

As vwill be described in detail hereinafter, the oscillatory motion of the bell crank operates to oscillate the knife which cuts the cellulose sheets. This construction provides ajpositive control of the knife structure, avoiding the necessity of having springs for the cam followers and at the same time makes for simpler and cheaper construction of the cams.

Referring to Figure 7, bell crank extends upwardly and forms a bearing support 54 for a transversely extending shaft 55 which extends across the machine and is supported by a similar bearing 56 integral with crank 51 pivoted about a pin 58 integral with the frame I8.

Integral with the crank 51 is a bearing 60 in which square shaft 6| is rotatablyA mounted. Upon the shaft 6| is mounted a cutting knife 62 which extends transversely across the machine and is riveted to the shaft 6| by means of rivets 83.

-Shaft 6| is supported at its opposite end by the bearing64 in which it is also rotatably mounted. Bearing 64 is integral with bell crank 5|. Located near bearing 64 is a collar 65 mounted on the shaft 6| and having secured thereto one end of a spring 66 encircling the shaft 6|. The other end of the spring is secured to the support 64. This spring 66 normally urges the knife blade 62 against the cutting guide structure |21, as will be hereinafter explained.

It will now be obvious that as the bell crank 5| is rocked back -and forth when the cam followers are operated by their respective cams, the knife shaft 6|, together with the knife blade 62 pivotally mounted thereon, and the shaft 55, is rocked back and forth on pivots 52 and 58. The knife blade 62, being `pressed against guide |21 by spring 66 this is reciprocated for the cutting action.

As is now about to be explained, while the knife is in its topmost position, due to cam follower 41 moving over the raised portion of cam 45, a predetermined amount of the cellulose sheets is fed under and past the knife. of this feed, the cellulose sheets are brought to a stop and the cam, follower 48, passing over the raised portion of cam 46, rocks the knife shaft and knife blade counterclockwise into cutting position, during which movement the cellulose sheets are cut to a length determined by the amount which has been fed into position.

It will now be obvious that the timing between the operation of the knife and the feeding of the cellulose sheets is such that the cutting occurs dmmediately after the cellulose sheets have been fed forward a predetermined length and brought to a stop, and that thereafter as ,soon as the knife is removed, a further predetermined length of cellulose sheets is fed forward. This action will l now be explained in detail.

Referring to Figures 2 and 6, there is shown a -rod connected to the outer face of cam 44.

It will be recalled that the shaft 43 is continually rotated and carries with it cam member 44. The

outer face of cam 44 is disk-shaped. One end of the rod 10 is pivoted on the cam at 1| and the other end is similarly pivoted in member 12 at 1|'.

Frame 12, pivotally mounted at 12 in the frame functions as will be described, to transfer power from shaft 43 for feeding predeterminedA lengths of the cellulose sheets between each out- A guide 80 is mounted on said screw 13 be- At the completion tween the bearings 14 and 15 of the member 12 and is internally threaded so that a movement of the screw 13 will cause the guide 88 to move up .or down on the screw 13, depending on the direction of rotation of said screw. Set screw 18, set in member 'l2 (Figure 13) is manually rotated by means of cross rod 19 to hold screw 13 in any desired setting. Secured to guide 80 for maintaining its transverse position while moving up and down is a stud 8| integral with guide 88 and operating in a slot 82 of the sector gear 83 (Figure 14).

The sector gear 83 is pivotally mounted onto the frame on shaft I2. Thus the rotary movement ofthe cam 44 will communicate its motion to the connecting rod 10, operating the member 12, carrying with it the screw 13,and guide 60. The arc that the guide 88 describes in its reciprocating motion depends on the portion of member 12 with which it is in engagement; that is to say, its distance from the pivot shaft 12' to which it has b^en adjusted as indicated by pointer 80 on the scale. Guide 88 through stud 8| in slot 82 will cause the sector gear 83 to operate in a reciprocating motion, the amplitude of the arc through which sector gear 83 is rocked in turn depending on the amplitude of the arc made by guide 88 which in turn depends upon the distance that the stud 8| is from the pivot 1.2'. The relative changes in these two valus is made such that a gradual change in the excursion of sector gear 83 is effected as the stud 8| is moved from one to the opposite end of the slot 82 by the screw 13. The calibrated scale at the edge of member 'l2 serves to permit one to adjust the mschanism for any desired length of wrapper.

The sector gear 83 contains a series of gear teeth 85 on its outer periphery which mesh with and operate teeth 86 of the pinion 81 which is rotatably mounted on shaft |88, as shown in Figure 6. As the sector gear 83 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the pinion 81 is operated in a clockwise direction and vice versa. Pinion 81 has a projecting circular hollow flange 89 (Figure 9) which forms a housing for the clutch member 88. A block 90 is xed to, for rotation with, shoulder 95 near the end of shaft |08, by means of a. pin 95' (Figure l0). Two metal stops 9| and 9|' are fastened to block 98 and project beyond its sides at diametrically opposite ends to cooperate with metallic rollers 93 and 94, as hereinafter described.

The internal diameter of the flange 89 is large enough to permit its free revolution about the two stops 9| and 9|. A rectangular plate 98 is fixed against block 93 to enclose the rollers 93 and 94 as shown in Figures 9 to 12. These rollers are thus constrained to move along corresponding sides of block 90. A cap 89 attached to the end of shaftI |80 by nut 92 completes the housing for the clutch member 88.

When the pinion 81 is rotated in a clockwise direction by sector gear 83, the rollers 93 and 94 become wedged between the block 98 and the cylindrical flange 89. They jam themselves into the position to cause a lock between the block 90 and the flange 89 and thereby permit transfer of power from pinion 81 to the shaft |80.

When the pinion 81 is driven counterclockwise, the rollers 93 and 94 occupy the position shown in Figure 10. They rest against the metal strips 90 and 9| which act as flexible stops. The internal diameter of the ange 89 is large enough to not be able to contact the rollers 93 and 94 when they are in this position. There is thus no locking action between the pinion 81 and shaft |00 and therefore no power transfer.

Accordingly, as sector gear 83 is moved counterclockwise in its cycle, it transfers power to rotate shaft |00 and as sector gear 83 is moved clockwise it does not transferpower toshaft |00 which therefore does not rotate then. The shaft |00 (Figure 9) is suitably mounted in bearing 91 of frame and in bearing 91 of frame |0 (the latter shown in Figure l). A gear 98 is secured to, for rotation'with, shaft |00 by set screw 98. A resilient cushion roller 99 is attached to gear 98 with screws |0|.

Referring to Figure '7, cushion roller 99 is in tangential relation to pressure cushion roller |02. This pressure roller is rotated by the attached gear |03 which meshes with gear 98 of the cushion roller 99. The shaft |04 of the pressure roller |02 is rotatably mounted in levers |05i and |06, as shown in Figure 1. The continuously rotating member |1 is thus caused to intermittently rotate the cushion roller 99 together with pressure roller |02, which rollers act as drive rollers to intermittently feed the cellulose sheets through the machine. The number of whole or fractional revolutions of the drive rollers is proportional to the arc traced by the sector gear which drives the one-way clutch. The length of the intermittently fed sheets depends, therefore,

on the setting of the pointer 80 on the calibrated scale and is actuated indirectly by motor which rotates continuously. The angle of revolution of drive rollers 99 and |02, therefore, depends directly upon the excursion of the sector gear and determines the length of sheets fed per cycle.

Extending from the frame is an extension |01 (Figure 6) containing an aperture |08 within which a compression spring |09 is located. Under the action of bolt ||0, spring |09 is compressed. The stud which is integral with lever |05, is attached to the end of spring |09. By changing the compression of spring |09, the tension between the two rollers 99 and |0|i can be controlled. As seen in Figure 8, thereis a similar arrangement at the opposite end of the roller |02, namely lever |06, extension |01', compression spring |09' and bolt H0.

Lever |06 is pivotally mounted on frame I0 by pin ||2 (Figure 4). Cam lever ||3 is rotatably mounted on frame I0 by pin |4. A manual clockwise rotation of cam lever ||3 causes lever |06 to tum counterclockwise, thereby raising the pressure roller |02 against the force of the compression spring. There is a corresponding lever arrangement on the opposite end at frame as seen in Figure 8, namely cam lever 'I |3 mounted to act with lever |05.

Thus a. pull on levers ||3 and ||3' raises pressure roller |02 and permits the insertion of the cellulose sheets when setting up. Adjustment of bolts ||0 and H0 isvmade for any desired pressure between the rollers 99 and |02 which act to drive the cellulose sheets through the mastant frictional engagement despite their diminishing diameters when they are being used. Such contact of the rolls is desirable to prevent unrolling of cellulose during that portion of the cycle when no cellulose sheets are being drawn. Furthermore, a proper tension is thus imparted to the cellulose sheets |20 and |2| as they pass from their respective rolls ||8 and ||9 around guide roller |22 (set on shaft I2), past the slitter knives |23 (set in holders |24 and mounted on rod |25) and thence between the drive rollers 99 and |02. The sheets are taut and thus are easily slit.

I have provided guide strips |21 (Figure 8) at the points the sheets are fed between the drive rollers. These are exible strips mounted to assist in the passage of the cellulose sheets between said drive rollers.

There is one slitter knife |23 for each slit that is to be cut along the cellulose sheets (Figure 1). Each slitter' knife may be set in any desired position along rod |25 by means of a thumb screw |26 in the knife holder |24.

Assistance to the feeding of the cellulose sheets from the rolls may be arranged by placing in frictional relationship the bottom of the lower cellulose roll ||9 and the cushion roller 99. We can keep this relationship constant if two springs are attached to the ends of their corresponding shafts (similar to springs |22 for the roll shafts). Thus the frictional engagement of the two rolls ||8 and ||9 and the cushion roller 99 is maintained despite the diminishing diameter of the rolls as feeding progresses.

These frictional contacts seem to keep the sheets taut, but permit regular feeding without subjecting the material to excessive strain. The two rolls are simultaneously rotated to assist in the feeding by the drive rollers. In the machine I am discussing I have chosen not to engage the rolls and rollers in this manner, for the sake of simplicity. Nevertheless, the principle as stated is clear and easily applicable when the design of a given machine necessitates it.`

Referring again to Figure 4 we notice that the contacting rolls ||8 and ||9 necessarily rotate in opposite directions. If roll ||0 rotates clockwise (solid arrows), roll ||9 will rotate counterclockwise, and the sheets |20 and |2| will be fed as illustrated. However, if the sheets are fed as shown by dotted lines |20 and |2|', roll H8 will rotate counterclockwise and roll ||9 will r0- tate clockwise. The action on the sheets past guide roll |22 is, however, unchanged.

I do not wish to'be limited to the use of only two rolls of cellulose. As many more rolls could be mounted in extensions of tracks ||5 asv we may design the machine to carry.l Springs similar to springs |22 will then hold adjacent rolls in contact. The sheets will be drawn from the top or bottom of each roll corresponding to the direction of rotation of that roll and then brought together around the guide roll |22. The action from here on is identical to the case we are discussing.

A guide structure |21 (Figure '1) consists of two identical metal strips |28 and |29 held in position on shaft I30xby bolts 3|. Shaft |30 is secured to the frames l0 and A| I. The two plates |28 and |29 are mounted parallel to the sheets 20 and |2| which pass between them. The space between these plates is fixed and maintained to permit easy passage of the sheets.

|The edges of the plates |28 and |29 which are adjacent to the knife blade 62 serve to guide structure.

this knife in a transverse relation to the sheets during the cutting operation. The knife 62 is urged against the guide plates by the spring 66, as hereinbefore described. Therefore, despite the fact that the Shaft 5|, holding the knife 62,v

describes a circular reciprocating motion, the cutting edge of the knife 62 which presses against guide plates |28 and |29 will reciprocate linearly.

As seen in Figure 1, the knife 62 is mounted at an angle to the sheets. The knife thus starts its shearing action at the right side of the sheets, and then progressively cuts along the sheets towards the left side. A clean cut is thus effected with a minimum shearing force. The guide structure |21 serves to 'hold the edges of the sheets and to guide the blade 62 during the cutting operation. The lower right corner of the blade 82 is designed to rest against the guide structure |21 when the knife is in its uppermost position so that the knife will at all times be guided in its linear reciprocating cycle.

The sheets |20 and |2| continue past the guide structure |21 onto the cross rods 38 (Figure 1) which are carried in the sprocket chains. They pass under a set of aprons |32 (Figure '1). I have successfully used aprons made of leather, although other materials may be used. The leather is cut into thin strips to reduce the weight of, and add exibility to, these aprons. They are mounted on a rod |33 (Figure 7) which is secured to bearings 54 and 58 of the cutting An adequate number of aprons are placed into position.

One purpose of these aprons is to hold the sheets together and keep them from uttering,

curling, crinkling or otherwise distorting themselves as they progress across the machine. Another purpose is to prevent the wrappers from sliding forward after'being cut, by means of the friction of the leather upon them. The principal purpose of the aprons will be described hereinafter.

In Figure 4 the cross rods 38 are moving tothe right, still supporting the sheets and aprons horlzontally. One revolution of the sprocket chains occursv per cycle of operation. The number and position of these rods 38 is designed so that the iirst rod engages the front edges of the sheets |20 and |2| at the beginning of the cycle and the last rod just passes these edges as the cutting operation is completed on the shortest length of wrapper the machine is designed to cut. The horizontal support of the cut sheets and of the aprons is then removed, and they, therefore, fall towards the stack |35 which is below. Figure 5 shows the position of the apron |32 on the stack 134 when unsupported by rods 38. As longer lengths of wrapper are cut, the last rods 38 will still support the front portion. In such cases the back portion will fall towards the stack |34 rst, and the front will soon be dropped down as rods 38 move away. l

The apron |32 serves to guide the cut sheets onto their stack |34. The stack reposes in an adjustable enclosure attached to the sub-frame 34 and 35 by shafts |35 and 36. The sidev plates |31 and |38 (Figure 8) are mounted on these shafts by collars |39 (Figure 1) and may be moved along the shafts to accommodate for any sheet width used. The forward end support is made up of a series of pins |4| projecting from the inner joints of pantograph hinge |40. 'I'his hinge is slidably mounted on the side plates |31 and |38 at its ends |43 and |44. Thus, when the position of the side plates is changed, the

width of the pantgraph hinge |40 changes correspondingly. 'Ihe longitudinal position of this hinge |40 may be adjusted along the side plates to set the projecting pins |4| against the end of any length of sheet that is to be cut. bottom of the stack rests on a. metal sheet |42 which is integral with or mounted to the bottom edges of the sub-frame members 34 and 35 (Figures 1 and 8).

Having hereinbefore discussed the component actions of my machine independently, I shall now describe the cycle of operations to indicate how I have coordinated them to automatically cut and stack cellulose wrappers of any desired length or width from rolls of cellulose.

The rolls of cellulose are set in the tracks I|5 and the sheets are drawn around guide roller |22', past slitter knives |23, and then between the drive rollers 99 and |02 to the guide structure |21 in a manner already described. The position of pointer 80 is set for the desired length of wrapper, and the slitter knives |23 are set for the desired width. The stack enclosure is adjusted for proper length and width.

The motor |1 continuously drives pulley 23 (Figure 3) clockwise which rotates sprocket chains and pinion 60 clockwise. Pinion 40 meshes with gear 4| to drive cam 44 (Figure 2) counterclockwise at a lower speed than the sprocket wheels. 'I'he sprocket chains make one revolution per revolution of the cam M. When cam 46 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the bell crank 5| is supported so that it holds the knife structure away from its cutting position, and sector gear 83 is moving counterclockwise. Clutch member 88 is thus rotated clockwise and, being engaged, rotates cushion and pressure rollers 93 and |02 to draw cellulose sheets |20 and |2| forward through the machine. The sheets pass onto the transverse supporting rods 38 which are in a position to meet the edges and ride between these rods and the aprons |32. I'his action continues until sector gear 83 has reached the end of its counterclockwise excursion.

On the clockwise return movement of the sector gear 83, clutch 88 is disengaged from drive rollers 99 and |02 in a manner hereinbefore explained, and the sheet feeding therefore ceases. Cam 44 is now entering the last portion of its revolution (Figure 6) and cam surfaces l5l and 46 urge bell crank 5| counterclockwise, operating the knife structure to cut the stationary sheets transversely at a proper length. When the cutting stroke is completed, the supporting rods 38 are moving from under the sheets which now fall to the stack |34 below, guided by a flapping motion of the leather aprons |32 which also prevent the sheets from sliding forward.

At the end of the cycle, cam 44 moves bell crank 5| clockwise to carry the knife structure away from action. Cam 64 has now made one revolution and the cycle of operation is completed. This cy's repeated as sector gear 83 is again moved counterclockwise to start the feeding of the sheets through the machine.

I have described mechanisms and their coordination to accomplish the objects of my invention. I have described means whereby cellulose sheets from one, two or more rolls of any width may be cut into any desired length and width of wrapper and stacked in one operation or cycle. It is obvious that other forms and different combinations of mechanisms may be constructed to perform these operations. For example, various shapes or types of the cam member and its The.

tion with said last-mentioned means for cutting said materials in lengths determined by said feeding; gripping means operated from said source of power for gripping the said material as it is fed forward for maintaining the edge taut during the cutting operation; and means operative following the cutting of the material for stacking the material, said gripping means returning to grip the new end of the material as it again is being fed, said stacking and gripping means comprising a plurality of aprons and a plurality of rods mounted on continuous chains, ysaid material being fed between said aprons and said rods and gripped therebetween.

2. In combination; a source of power; means operative from said source of power for feeding -cellulose sheets; a slitting knife; means operated from said source of power for feeding said cellulose sheets past said slitting knife for slitting said material longitudinally; means for intermittent- 1y stopping said feeding means; means operated during said stopping interval for cutting material transversely; means operative following the cutting of the material for stacking the material; and a stack enclosure adjustable for any size of stack, said enclosure consisting of two side plates connected by a pantograph hinge with pins projecting from the joints of said hinge.

CAESAR BUSTAMANTE. 

